Speaking during the combined thematic working groups (TWG) workshop on project for development of a national monitoring and evaluation system in Gaborone recently, World Bank’s lead public sector governance specialist, Ms Kathrin Plangemann indicated that what the groups had done was impressive.

GABORONE, Botswana, January 31, 2017/APO/ --

World Bank Mission representative has hailed Botswana for the impressive output on the National Monitoring and Evaluation System (NMES).

Speaking during the combined thematic working groups (TWG) workshop on project for development of a national monitoring and evaluation system in Gaborone recently, World Bank’s lead public sector governance specialist, Ms Kathrin Plangemann indicated that what the groups had done was impressive.

Ms Plangemann said following the World Bank mission of December 2016, different sectors were required to review the indicators and make possible changes and improvements where necessary.

She stated that a few of the members had responded to the call and the changes suggested were incorporated in the matrix, adding that there was a need to conclude development of those indicators, especially on baseline data, targets and indicator protocols.

She said Botswana has a strong collaboration with the World Bank adding that they were in a bid to strengthen relations, reduce poverty and make sure that the public sector delivers its mandate.

She requested all sectors of the economy to closely scrutinise the identified indicators and provide the necessary information for the success of the initiative, adding that “successful implementation of the NMES is the gateway to a successful and brighter future.”

For his part, the director of macroeconomic policy in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Dr Ernest Makhwaje mentioned that NDP 11 was approved by Parliament on December 1, 2016, with the theme, “Inclusive Growth for the Realisation of Sustainable Employment Creation and Poverty Eradication” which seeks to address Botswana’s three main development challenges of unemployment, poverty, and income inequality.

Dr Makhwaje said the plan focuses on six national priorities, diversified sources of economic growth, human capital development, social development, sustainable use of natural resources, consolidation of good governance and strengthening of national security, monitoring and evaluation.

On the way forward in terms of the implementation of NDP 11, Dr Makhwaje stated that members of the various TWGs would be critical in the implementation and delivery of plan’s national priorities.

He stated that the ministry reflections are by no means exhaustive and also urged other ministries and departments to develop their strategic plans based on the national priorities and strategies identified in NDP 1.

He said they should also align their visions, missions and mandate to identified NDP 11 strategies and implement NDP 11 national priorities and strategies through their annual performance plans for effective delivery of the goals and objectives contained NDP 11.

He however said in the previous plans, project implementation had been a challenge, particularly in terms of project designs and scope, cost overruns and delays in project delivery.

Dr Makhwaje said it was important for accounting officers to take charge of project deliveries under their ministries and departments by adopting some of the re-engineering tendering and adjudication processes to ensure speedy delivery of projects.

Distributed by APO on behalf of Government of Botswana.